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Study in Canon No. 1 arr. soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone and piano

Kirchner’s trio arrangements of Schumann's 6 Studies in Canon are an additional exploration of the textural and timbral element of Schumann’s ori Read More...

Kirchner’s trio arrangements of Schumann's 6 Studies in Canon are an additional exploration of the textural and timbral element of Schumann’s original writing. The trio realisation plays back at 72 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. The tempo indication is to play the movement “Not too quickly” which be played in quite a broad tempo range. In the video score, which can be found by clicking the YouTube link on the PlentyMusic home page, the ornaments have been written out to add clarity to what often is an ambiguous area. The PlentyMusic solution is not intended to be prescriptive but the suggestions are based on the best of current performance practice. The ornaments can be omitted and this is probably sensible when the movement is first being studied. The rhythmic detail requires some attention particularly with the tied notes across the bar line creating what are syncopated patterns. Pianists may well make of use the sustaining pedal, particularly in the section from bar 25, although its use is not indicated in the sheet music score. Accompaniments are available from the PlentyMusic website in mp3 format that enable the oboe player to explore the movement as an ensemble piece. Recorded at 256kbps quality they playback at 64, 68, 72, 76 and 80 quarter note beats to the minute. Schumann’s 6 Studies in Canon Opus 56 exist in several arrangements for many different instrument combinations and are well worth exploring particular as an introduction to chamber music playing. Close

Study in Canon No.6 Opus 56 arr. soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone and piano

This version has been transposed down a semitone from the original key of B to Bb. T. Kirchner, arranged the six Schumann’s Studies in Canon expandi Read More...

This version has been transposed down a semitone from the original key of B to Bb. T. Kirchner, arranged the six Schumann’s Studies in Canon expanding the original concept into music to be enjoyed by a chamber group. This is a quiet slow movement in reflective mood with a compositional approach that is vocal in style and reminiscent of Bach’s 4 part chorale writing although with chromatic romantic harmony. The melody is not always in the top line and as in 4 part chorale writing it is the tenor line that often needs to be prominent. The second middle section is presented as a fugal exposition. The final section is introduced by a dotted rhythm as an upbeat in bar 32 and returns to the mood and style of the first section although this final section has more contrast and is more dramatic. The realisation plays back at 60 quarter note beats to the minute with the tempo is marked adagio in the score. This is a challenging movement from the music reading point of view because of the chromaticism and tied notes. For those wishing to see how the ornaments in the realisation are played refer to the video score on our PlentyMusicCo YouTube channel. Simply click the link on the PlentyMusic home page and search for the score. Trills begin on the note. There are many arrangements of this particular movement and the music editor suggests that along with Schumann’s other Studies in Canon they are ideal works to introduce intermediate level players to chamber music playing. Accompaniments are available enabling the soprano saxophone player to explore and develop their ensemble skills. Four accompaniments are available in the tempo range from 58 to 64 quarter beats to the minute. Do advise the Plenty Music Office if you are playing with a tenor saxophone and require just the piano sounding in the accompaniment. Close

Rondeau from Sonata Concertata Opus 61 arr. tenor saxophone and piano and piano

This movement is an arrangement of music that was originally composed for the violin and guitar. The third movement of Niccolo Paganini’s Sonata Co Read More...

This movement is an arrangement of music that was originally composed for the violin and guitar. The third movement of Niccolo Paganini’s Sonata Concertata essentially has the form and mood of a rondo which are typically found as the final movement of a concerto. This is an appealing uplifting joyful movement with challenges for both the solo player and accompanist. The realisation plays back at 92 dotted quarter notes to the minute and the movement can be performed in a tempo range from 88 to 104 dotted quarter notes to the minute. There is still much repertoire to be discovered and shared from existing music and Paganini’s compositions for violin and guitar are in this category. Legato playing is to be encouraged and solo instrument players need to consider how they play the sections where the piano accompaniment has the dominant musical material. There is opportunity to perhaps ornament and decorate the solo instrument line. The sectional structure of the rondeau encourages good practice strategies and as the repetitive element is strong it makes it an ideal performance piece for the player seeking to gain experience and confidence in this aspect of their playing. The repeat of the first section has been retained in the realisation and music score but could be omitted in a performance. The use of the sustaining pedal is to encouraged in the accompanying piano part although pedal markings are not indicated in the score. So much can be learnt about playing difficult pieces by playing easy pieces and this movement is a case in point. This ensemble piece has been included in the PlentyMusic Concert Hall area of study. There is the option of slowing down at the end although this is probably only appropriate when the tempo is 100 or more beats to the minute. There are some lovely Spanish music references through the use of the phrygian mode in the section from bars 76 to bar 84. Paganini (1782 – 1840) is a unique and quite captivating figure in the history of music who influenced many romantic composers inspiring many to write for the piano as he did for the violin. His music and particularly his virtuoso approach has been the inspiration for compositions by many other composers including Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninov amongst others. He was the outstanding violinist of his age and in addition was an excellent guitarist although his performances on this instrument were shared with friends rather than the public. He also left a teaching legacy as well as compositions and a well documented and renowned performance legacy. Mp3 piano accompaniment files can be downloaded from the PlentyMusic website enabling solo instrument players to enjoy an ensemble music experience. Accompaniment 1 plays at 88 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute, Accompaniment 2 plays at 92 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute and Accompaniment 3 plays at 96, Accompaniment 4 plays at 100 and Accompaniment 5 at 104 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. The accompaniments are recorded at 256 kbps which should enable them to be played through speakers in a performance context. Please advise the PlentyMusic Office if there is any feedback on this aspect of their use. Close

Study in Canon No. 2 soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone and piano

Theodor Kirchner was a highly regarded musician, composer and arranger whose career sadly did not live up to expectation because of personal failings. Read More...

Theodor Kirchner was a highly regarded musician, composer and arranger whose career sadly did not live up to expectation because of personal failings. The trio arrangements of Schumann’s Studies in Canon date from 1888. In this arrangement for soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone and piano the imitative and canonic features of the music are very evident in the sharing of the lines between the instruments. The German term «Min innigen ausdruck » meaning with ‘heartfelt expression’ is used to describe the mood of the music at the beginning of the movement although the music editor has favoured the use of Italian terms in the score detail. There are some octave transpositions in the soprano saxophone part to accommodate the range of the instrument. Parts for both saxophones appropriately transposed are appended to the full score. The Studies in Canon Opus 56 of Schumann are excellent pieces for the music student because they refererence music of the past with the chromatic language of the romantic period and are appealing to play. The Opus 56 collection can be appreciated on so many levels and the pieces exist in a number of different arrangements. This is music that re-invents J.S.Bach style than directly imitating or copying it. The playback score or realisation is clearly not as nuanced as a live performance. The texture is straightforward to understand in that there are two melodies exploring the canonic and imitative aspects of the music, a chordal accompaniment and a bass line. The realisation plays back at 63 dotted quarter note beats to the minute notes to the with the occasional slowing down or rit. The score detail in place in the sheet music score is particularly relevant to the tonal qualities of modern instruments. In addition to Schumann’s the original composition for pedal piano there are many arrangements of the Opus 56 collection namely Georges Bizet’s for piano duet and Claude Debussy’s for two pianos. The use of the sustaining pedal whilst recommended has not been indicated in the sheet music score. There is also opportunity to explore tempo rubato in a performance. In romantic music this refers to the give and take (speeding up and slowing down) as far as tempo is concerned. The mp3 accompaniment downloads available enable players to enjoy an ensemble music experience playing the soprano saxophone as a solo. The piano and tenor saxophone sound in the accompaniment. Accompaniment 1 plays at 60 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute, Accompaniment 2 at 63 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute Accompaniment 3 at 66 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute and Accompaniment 4 at 69 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. There is a two bar count in at the beginning of the accompaniments. Close

Spanish Dance No. 2 Opus 12 arr. tenor saxophone & piano

In this arrangement for tenors saxophone with piano accompaniment of Moszkowski’s Spanish Dance No. 2 Opus 12 the realisation plays back at 135 quar Read More...

In this arrangement for tenors saxophone with piano accompaniment of Moszkowski’s Spanish Dance No. 2 Opus 12 the realisation plays back at 135 quarter note (crotchet) beats a minute in the first and last A section and 144 in the middle B section. The first section could be played at a slower or quicker tempo and likewise the middle section. The movement needs to be played with a one in a bar feel and features the triplet figuration that is so characteristic of Spanish music. Players should endeavour to communicate the charm and intimacy of the music whilst the melody and accompaniment need to be articulated with clarity and consistency. The movement is in ABA ternary form and has a regular 8 bar phrase structure. In fact each of the main sections are in ternary form so analysis of the movement reveals a structure that can be represented as A (a b a) B (c d c) A (a b a). Octave transpositions are in place where appropriate and chord voicings in the accompaniment have been occasionally edited. The melody is also presented as a single note line. Tempo rubato is something that can be embraced in a performance but has not been used in the realisation and playback. Similarly, the sustaining pedal can be used although its use is not indicated in the sheet music score. The slowing downs that feature at the end of phrases are also not marked in the score. This is music intended for performance in the early 20th century drawing room. This colourful movement exists in several chamber and orchestral arrangements. Moszkowski is a composer whose brilliant piano pieces in particular are worthy of attention although much of the music is technically very challenging. Piano accompaniments are available playing at the following tempi (1) 144/144/144 (2) 138/150/138 (3) 135/144/135 (4)126/138/126. The numbers simply refer to the number of quarter note/crotchet beats to the minute referencing the ABA structure. If you require a more bespoke accompaniment please advise the PlentyMusic office and we will create and upload it for you. The small ornamental notes do not sound in the arrangement although they have been retained in the sheet music score. The music editor suggests that they are probably best omitted certainly in the early stages of learning the piece. Close

Lascia chio pianga

The aria or song is taken from the opera Rinaldo which first appeared in 1711 and was revised in 1733. It is in ABA form and based on the sarabande rh Read More...

The aria or song is taken from the opera Rinaldo which first appeared in 1711 and was revised in 1733. It is in ABA form and based on the sarabande rhythm which has the stress on the second beat of the three beats in the bar. When sung the Da Capo section would be an opportunity for the soloist to improvise and ornament the melody and this is option available to the organists although it is important to keep to the style and mood of the piece. This is very appropriate music for a solemn processional in an organ playing context. The use of three registrations is suggested and are indicated in the score. Rests have been indicated in all parts so that players have a clear understanding of the voicing. It is also a movement that invites interpretation and playing in different contexts. The arrangement is in the original key of F major although the tempo for the organ solo is more Larghetto than Largo which was the tempo indication in the opera. The video score plays back at a tempo of 66 half note or minim beats to the minute. Rests are indicated in the score enabling players to have a clear understanding of the voicing of the musical lines. Moskowski has also arranged the aria for piano. Close

It’s A Date

It's A Date is a beginner level piano/keyboard piece based on a 12 bar blues. As a beginner score the letter names of the notes appear in the note hea Read More...

It's A Date is a beginner level piano/keyboard piece based on a 12 bar blues. As a beginner score the letter names of the notes appear in the note heads and suggested fingering is in place. The tempo of the playback on the video score is 84 half note or minim beats to the minute.Players need to take notice of the accent signs marked in the score and keep their hands as light as possible. Playing a blues structured piece of music does encourage fluent playing and the development of musical memory. The 12 bar blues forms the basis of much popular music of the 20th century. Close

Manchega arr. tenor saxophone & piano

Manchega originates as a concert étude for piano – an étude in music is a study. Such movements are intended to improve and demonstrate techniqu Read More...

Manchega originates as a concert étude for piano – an étude in music is a study. Such movements are intended to improve and demonstrate technique and in the context of the original arrangement was intended to demonstrate his virtuoso playing. The playback tempo in the playback score is 60 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. The movement in ABA (Ternary form) which was very much the standard form during the romantic period. Composers needed to follow the conventions of their time to ensure the patterns of their music were readily recognized by audiences. The A section is in Eb and the B section in Gb. The repeat does not sound in the playback. There has been some re-scoring but not re-writing of the original material. This is an excellent piece for developing 3 v 2 playing which is such a characteristic element of Spanish and music based on Spanish models. The music editor suggests practicing the music slowly in the first instance so that all rhythmic shapes and patterns are secure. The use of the piano sustaining pedal is recommended but is not indicated in the score. Gottschalk composition approach is influenced particularly by Chopin. As the repetitive element in the movement is strong there is an opportunity to explore the articulations, dynamics and tonal range in a performance. The music editor suggests that this movement along with much of Gottschalk’s music is worth discovering particularly in arrangements where the playing level allows access to the music. The small ornamental notes sound in the realization although the music editor suggests leaving them out c during the learning of the piece. It is then up to the player’s own discretion whether to play or them or not.A tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Piano accompaniments are also available for download in mp3 format at tempi of Accompaniment (1) 63 Accompaniment (2) 60 and Accompaniment (3) 57 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829 – 1869) was an American composer and pianist born in New Orleans who spent most of his performing career touring and giving concerts. He was often referred to as the greatest pianist from the “New World.” Chopin, Liszt and Alkan were great admirers of his talent. His compositions established him as one of the first identifiable American composers. In his music it is possible to hear a mix of American Creole, African-American and European music traditions. His early works in particularly are imbued with the sounds that he heard in his youth in Louisiana. The syncopated nature of his music anticipates many of the characteristics of later American ragtime and jazz music. The music editor worked from an old print copy of the work and there were several ambiguities in the score so any feedback on detail would be much appreciated. Close

Mi Teresita (Little Waltz) arr. tenor saxophone & piano

Teresa Carreño 1853 – 1917 was a Venezuelan concert pianist and composer whose career spanned a period of 54 years. Known for her powerful and spi Read More...

Teresa Carreño 1853 – 1917 was a Venezuelan concert pianist and composer whose career spanned a period of 54 years. Known for her powerful and spirited playing she earned the title from her Berlin years as the “Valkyrie of the piano.” She was closely associated with the music of Edward MacDowell, a pupil, premiering several of his works and also the music of Amy Beach. She lived in the USA and Berlin which became her base for her years in Europe. Her schedule of concerts and the longevity of her career suggests that she was very hard working. A superb player of octaves she possessed a powerful tone and great strength. She travelled widely performing in Europe including the Henry Wood Proms, USA and Australia. Henry Wood wrote that "It is difficult to express adequately what all musicians felt about this great woman who looked like a queen among pianists - and played like a goddess.” She must indeed have been a larger than life character because over 100 years after her death her legacy remains strong and there are player piano recordings of her work available. “Mi Teresita” (Little Waltz) composed in 1885 for her daughter Teresita was one of her most popular pieces during her lifetime and often performed as an encore at her own concerts. In this arrangement for tenor saxophone accompanied by the piano the sounding key in Eb. Tenor saxophone players should be aiming for a beautiful legato and focusing on the tonal quality of their playing. The movement should not be played too quickly and there is a captivating closing section. The considerable range of dynamics also needs to be explored in a performance. Rubato is an aspect of the performance that players can consider although it is not a feature of the realization. The melody is reminiscent of something that might feature in a music box and it is a pity that a lilting quality isn’t quite represented in the realization. A tenor saxophone part is appended to the full score. Piano accompaniments are also available for download in mp3 format at tempi of Accompaniment (1) 128 Accompaniment (2) 124 and Accompaniment (3) 120 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Close

None but the Lonely Heart arr. tenor saxophone & piano

None but the Lonely Heart originates as a song and dates from 1869 coming from the composer’s Opus 6 collection. The poetry was written by the Germa Read More...

None but the Lonely Heart originates as a song and dates from 1869 coming from the composer’s Opus 6 collection. The poetry was written by the German romantic poet Goethe and subsequently translated into Russian. The music editor recommends reading a translation of the text although the clear message in the poem is an expression of loneliness. Although only 54 bars long the piece has great emotional and musical range making it an ideal assessment and audition piece. The repeating elements add unity to the song which has strong rhythmic and melodic shapes. Whilst there is a clearly evident phrase structure there are some overlapping phrases and the occasionally musical link which players need to take into consideration during a performance. Musically the falling minor 7th in the melody is characteristic as is the chromatic harmony which features a number of half-diminished 7th chords. Solo players should be aiming for a legato in their playing ensuring that they feature contrasting dynamics in a performance. There is a considerable amount of score detail and it is an excellent piece for developing control and quality of tone in solo playing. The suggested phrasing is determined by the shape of the melody and the punctuation of the poetry. Accompanists will need to make use of the sustaining pedal whilst the off-beat or syncopated chords in the accompaniment add to the intensity of the music. The realisation plays back at a tempo of 92 quarter notes or crotchet beats to the minute. There are accompaniments available playing at (1) 92 (2) 88 (3) 84 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute from the PlentyMusic website. A tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is appended to the sheet music score. Close

First Movement from Sonata orig. in G arr. arr. tenor saxophone & piano

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi became a Naples based composer from 1725 when the city was an important musical centre. His life sadly was cut short by il Read More...

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi became a Naples based composer from 1725 when the city was an important musical centre. His life sadly was cut short by illness but he did become a well-known composer in his lifetime particularly for his Stabat Mater and opera buffa. The approach to this arrangement has simply been to present an arrangement for solo instrument with piano accompaniment. There is no baroque or for that matter classical preoccupation with the challenge for the performer being to present what is a charming and appealing piece of music in a performing context. The tempo in the realisation is 66 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute whilst the repeat is not played. In the video score which is available to view on our YouTube channel the ornaments have been written out although symbols have been used in the sheet music score which is available from the website. Elements of baroque style can be identified in the rhythmic detail and the contrasting dynamics. The accompanist does need to make use of the sustaining pedal and there is some score detail relating to its use in place. An arrangement for solo violin with piano accompaniment by Alessandro Longo based on the trio sonata by Pergolesi is the source for this particular arrangement. Longo is best known for his work cataloguing Scarlatti’s sonatas and apart from being a fine concert pianist was Director of the Naples Conservatory. There are many other works have been incorrectly attributed to Pergolesi because as his name was well known, it was easy to sell the sheet music of others in this way! A tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. There are three piano accompaniments available at tempos of (1) 68 (2) 66 and (3) 64 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Each accompaniment has a click track at the opening to give the tempo enabling players to play the upbeat in time. Close

Sweet Dreams arr. saxophone choir/ quintet

An arrangement for soprano, two alto, tenor and baritone saxophones – 5 parts in total of this improver level ternary form (ABA) work from Tchaikovs Read More...

An arrangement for soprano, two alto, tenor and baritone saxophones – 5 parts in total of this improver level ternary form (ABA) work from Tchaikovsky’s 1878 Album for the Young, Opus 39. It is a melodic movement with a regular phrase structure which is not surprising for a composer known for his ballet music. There are editions where accent markings are placed very generously in the music scores although the music editor suggests that modern instruments with their stronger tone quality do not require such score markings. This is an excellent piece for developing legato playing and tone quality in the melody playing. The realisation plays back at a tempo of 84 quarter note or crotchet beats to the minute. The score and parts can be downloaded as a one document pdf file from the website. Close

Sweet Dreams arr. tenor saxophone & piano

This improver level ternary form (ABA) work is from Tchaikovsky’s Album for the Young, Opus 39. It is a melodic movement with a regular phrase struc Read More...

This improver level ternary form (ABA) work is from Tchaikovsky’s Album for the Young, Opus 39. It is a melodic movement with a regular phrase structure which is not surprising for a composer known for his ballet music. There are editions where accent markings are placed very generously in the music scores although the music editor suggests that modern instruments with their stronger tone quality do not require such score markings. This is an excellent piece for developing legato playing, quality of tone and musical memory as repetition is a strong element. The realisation plays back at a tempo of 84 quarter note or crotchet beats to the minute and the music sounds in Bb. A tenor saxophone appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. The piano accompanist can make use of the sustaining pedal in the A section with the use of the pedal guided by the harmonic rhythm. Pedalling in other words is governed by the changing chords or harmony. There are three piano accompaniments available at tempi of (1) 88 (2) 84 and (3) 80 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Close

Norwegian Dance No.2 arr. tenor saxophone & piano

An arrangement for tenor saxophone and piano of this charming character piece. This movement is in ABA ternary form with the A section playing back at Read More...

An arrangement for tenor saxophone and piano of this charming character piece. This movement is in ABA ternary form with the A section playing back at a tempo of 68 quarter note beats to the minute in the realisation and the faster B section at 112 quarter note beats to the minute. The music has a regular 4 bar phrase structure and there are some chromatic elements in the writing. There is opportunity for some subtle changes in tempo particularly at the ends of sections and these feature in the realisations. The melodic and rhythmic shapes of the movement are both strong and although concisely written there is plenty of contrast. It is an excellent performance piece with the opening melodic shape having an almost teasing quality. There is always a sense of movement in Grieg’s writing and the ranges of colour in his harmonic writing make his music eminently suitable to being played by many different combinations of instruments. Pianists have a number of different techniques that they can develop when playing this piece including legato, staccato, accents, tenuto, spread chords, crossing over of hands and using the sustaining and sostenuto pedal. It is a very good piece for developing octave playing. The sustaining pedal needs to be used in the playing of the movement and many of the piano chords are played in a spread or arpeggiated pattern. Grieg lived at a time when there was much development in piano technique and the quality of pianos improved greatly during his lifetime with the introduction of iron framed instruments. The humour in the music also invites an exaggerated performance although not featured in the realisation. Players should listen to performances to form their own view and explore different approaches to interpreting the music. Where appropriate some octave transpositions have been incorporated into the tenor saxophone melody line. As is the case with music from this period the sheet music copy has a considerable amount of score detail. Grieg’s Norwegian Dance No.2 was published in 1880 as a piano duet or more correctly music for piano four hands. Piano duets were a very popular in the late 19th century and much music would appear in this format. Grieg was fortunate in being able to access several folk music collections and much of this collected material was incorporated into arrangements and compositions. A tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is appended to the full sheet music score. Piano accompaniments are available with the following tempo options (1) 68/112/68 (2) 66/112/66 (3) 64/108/64. Numbers indicate the quarter note (crotchet) beats per minute for the ABA sections respectively. Close

Pavane pour une infante défuncte arr. tenor saxophone & piano

The origins of the music are as a piano piece composed in 1899 when Ravel was studying with Fauré. It exists in several arrangements and was populari Read More...

The origins of the music are as a piano piece composed in 1899 when Ravel was studying with Fauré. It exists in several arrangements and was popularised as a piano piece by the Spanish pianist Ricardo Viñes. Players should be aiming for both legato and beauty of tone in their playing. The music editor suggests an initial tempo of 63 quarter note beats to the minute in the first instance and as confidence and competence grows possibly slowing the tempo. The aspect of performing music at the correct tempo in a slow piece is quite challenging for players. This is quite a full arrangement for the solo player. However because of its sectional structure A (12 bars) B (7 bars) B’ (8 bars) A’ (12 bars) C (10 bars )C’ (10 bars) A’’ (13 bars). It becomes an easy matter to shorten the arrangement by simply omitting some of the repeating sections. Players may wish to advise the PlentyMusic Office of some fine tuning that the arrangement requires in respect to its playability. If there is a need for some cut down or shortened accompaniments please again advise the PlentyMusic Office and these will be made available. There are several arrangements of this music in existence and the intention of this one has been to keep as close to the original piano score as possible. This arrangement for tenor saxophone with piano accompaniment sounds in the key of G. The pavane has its origins as an Italian 16th century slow stately dance. Referencing past musical forms in their works became popular among Ravel’s contemporaries including Debussy. The cue sized decorative notes can be omitted whilst the piece in the early stages of studying the piece. The realisation plays back at a tempo of 60 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute and there are opportunities for give and take in the tempo particularly at the end of phrases. This is an ambitious and complete arrangement Ravel’s piece. Time does need to be spent understanding the musical texture and the lines of music. The composer’s own language has also been retained in the language used in the score The chromatic sections require careful study in terms of the notes to be played whilst the phrase endings often explore parallel movement in a characteristic sweep. Ravel frequently avoids the use of thirds in final chords of sections. The barring that is in place is to help the player to make the rhythmic connections in the movement. Performers should listen to a number of different performances played by different instruments to get a good overview of how the music can be best performed. The bold ending is a very characteristic feature of the original piano score and the suggestion is that it should be retained. The use of the piano sustaining pedal markings are not indicated in the score but its use is required. There are three piano accompaniments available at tempi of 1=63, 2=60 and 3=57 quarter note beats to the minute. A tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Close

Shenandoah arr. saxophone quartet

Shenandoah is a traditional American folk song dating from the 19th century. The song exists in many forms and arrangements becoming popular as a sea Read More...

Shenandoah is a traditional American folk song dating from the 19th century. The song exists in many forms and arrangements becoming popular as a sea shanty in the 1800’s. The beautiful yet powerful melody is suited to being both sung and played as an instrumental. The melody is also quite expansive and clearly open to different interpretations. This arrangement is for a saxophone quartet of soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones sounding in the key of Eb. The playback tempo is 84 quarter note beats to the minute and individual parts appropriately transposed are appended to the full score. Close

Shenandoah arr. tenor saxophone & piano

Shenandoah is a traditional American folk song dating from the 19th century. The song exists in many forms and arrangements becoming popular as a sea Read More...

Shenandoah is a traditional American folk song dating from the 19th century. The song exists in many forms and arrangements becoming popular as a sea shanty in the 1800’s. The beautiful yet powerful melody is suited to being both sung and played as an instrumental. The melody is quite expansive and clearly open to different interpretations. This arrangement sounding in Eb is for tenor saxophone accompanied by piano. The playback tempo is 84 quarter note beats to the minute and a tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Close

La biondina in gondoleta arr. tenor saxophone & piano

The origins of this piece are as a Venetian song about gondolas (boats) and gondoliers (those steering and propelling the boats). Themes often expres Read More...

The origins of this piece are as a Venetian song about gondolas (boats) and gondoliers (those steering and propelling the boats). Themes often expressed by gondoliers do tend to be about the romantic side of life. The words barcarola or barcarolle are used to describe the folk songs sung by Venetian gondoliers and they are usually in 6/8 time and played at a moderate tempo featuring a rhythmic pattern reminiscent of the gondolier’s oar stroke. Romantic composers were particularly fond of composing barcarolles and Mendelssohn’s “Song without Words” features several. This is an improver level arrangement with the realisation playing back at a tempo of 63 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. In this arrangement for tenor saxophone with piano accompaniment the sounding key is F. This is an excellent performance piece because the melody is appealing and familiar. Players should be aiming for a lightness in their approach and a legato in their playing. Time spent listening to recordings of this melody particularly by singers will help players learn how to approach a musical performance. Accompaniments are also available at tempos of 66, 63 and 60 dotted quarter note beats (crotchet) beats to the minute. A tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Close

When The Saints Go Marching In arr. saxophone quintet

When The Saints Go Marching In arranged for saxophone quintet sounding in the key of F. There are parts for parts for soprano, 2 x alto, tenor and bar Read More...

When The Saints Go Marching In arranged for saxophone quintet sounding in the key of F. There are parts for parts for soprano, 2 x alto, tenor and baritone saxophones. The playback tempo is 100 half note or minim beats to the minute whilst the music is notated in cut time. Traditional American music songs such as “When The Saints Go Marching In” are excellent pieces for developing an understanding of the style elements associated with the performance of 20th century popular music. There is opportunity for players to explore the arrangement - the bass line played by the pianist keyboard player is open to being played with some rhythmic variation particularly during the playing of the repeat sections. Many melodies and lyrics that are recognised as spirituals are often a synthesis of several songs that had their origins as work songs before, during and after the American Civil War. Songs sung from the 1850’s and onwards were perhaps published around 1918 and then first recorded in the 1920’s. The history of the song is well documented and many there are performances to be discovered embracing a range of styles and different types of performing group. Individual parts for the five instruments are appended to the full score. Close

When The Saints Go Marching In arr. tenor saxophone & piano

When The Saints Go Marching In arranged for tenor saxophone and piano sounding in the key of F. The playback tempo is 100 half note or minim beats to Read More...

When The Saints Go Marching In arranged for tenor saxophone and piano sounding in the key of F. The playback tempo is 100 half note or minim beats to the minute whilst the music is notated in cut time. Traditional American music songs such as “When The Saints Go Marching In” are excellent pieces for developing an understanding of the style elements associated with the performance of 20th century popular music. There is opportunity for players to explore the arrangement - the bass line played by the pianist is open to being played with some rhythmic variation particularly during the playing of the repeat sections. Many melodies and lyrics that are recognised as spirituals are often a synthesis of several songs that had their origins as work songs before, during and after the American Civil War. Songs sung from the 1850’s and onwards were perhaps published around 1918 and then first recorded in the 1920’s. The history of the song is well documented and many there are performances to be discovered embracing a range of styles and different types of performing group. A tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score whilst a piano accompaniment is also available. Close

Nel cor più non mi sento arr. tenor saxophone & piano

Paisiello was known as an opera composer and his best known melody “Nel cor più mi sento” is from his opera La Molinara. Beethoven used the melod Read More...

Paisiello was known as an opera composer and his best known melody “Nel cor più mi sento” is from his opera La Molinara. Beethoven used the melody as a theme for a set of piano variations in his Works without opus number 70 (WoO70). Paisiello became a Naples based composer contemporary with Cimararosa and Piccini although he was always very jealous of any rivals work wherever he worked and this included Paris, for Napoleon and St. Petersburg for Catherine II. Naples in the 18th and early 19th century was an important musical centre with the San Carlo Opera Theatre opening in 1737. There are many tunes from the past that are worthy of being re-discovered and this arrangement is intended for improver level instrumentalists. Bar 26 has been re written as a 9/8 bar simply to clarify how the ornaments should be played. The realisation plays back at a tempo of 54 dotted quarter note beats (crotchet) to the minute and accompaniments are available at this and two other tempi (1 = 56, 2 = 54 and 3 = 52 dotted quarter note beats to the bar). The Italian term Adagio has been used to describe the tempo in the sheet music scores. Note that the pause markings are ignored in the accompaniments but for those musicians playing with a pianist there is an opportunity to pause on the indicated sheet music markings and even create a break in the music. The repeat is not played in the playback score but is in the accompaniment track. The movement does need to be played with a clear sense of pulse and rhythmic awareness whilst ornaments need to be played with rhythmic clarity. Aspiring composers may well be challenged to compose some variations as a composition study. You are always welcome to send a copy of your work to the PlentyMusic office for an opinion! This piece of music can competently played by an improver level student and is suited to being played by most instruments. The music editor also suggests listening to performances by singers who often approach the repeat with great freedom and further embellish the music. This is not necessarily to imitate but to learn about how to perform music. The advice to any young performer is to always have the confidence to make the piece your own. The accompanist also has the option of experimenting with the articulations particularly if the intention is to create the sound of pizzicato strings. A tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Close

The Last Rose of Summer arr. tenor saxophone & piano

This traditional Irish melody associated with the early 19th poem written by Thomas Moore is suited to being played by a solo instrument with an accom Read More...

This traditional Irish melody associated with the early 19th poem written by Thomas Moore is suited to being played by a solo instrument with an accompaniment as a concert item. The melody is quite evocative and needs to be played with sensitivity and an awareness of phrasing. There are many melodic variants as often is the case with folk music. Players need to aim for a beautiful legato and may wish to omit the small ornamental notes. An tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Close

Pieds-en-l’air arr saxophone ensemble

This is an excellent piece for developing legato playing and instrument tone and this arrangement is for soprano, alto, tenor with possibly two instru Read More...

This is an excellent piece for developing legato playing and instrument tone and this arrangement is for soprano, alto, tenor with possibly two instruments playing each line and baritone saxophone. It is also a good test piece because a successful performance requires an awareness of the modal influence that exists in the lines of the music evident in the conflicting accidentals that feature in the score. For a saxophone ensemble to play this piece perfectly in tune is quite a challenge because it requires the participants to be aware of each other’s part and rôle. The time signature is also a bit unusual but think of it as three groups of 3 whilst the tempo of the realization is played at 132 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Rhythmically there are one or two moments that need attention particularly in the inner parts and the voice leading is at times quite challenging to follow. Individual saxophone parts are appended to the full music score. Peter Warlock’s career was sadly a short lived one but he did make some important contributions to the repertoire including the Capriol Suite from which this particular movement is taken. He was very interested in folk and Elizabethan music and used the name Warlock as a pseudonym for his composition work. He was a close friend of Delius and also worked as a music journalist using his real name which was Philip Heseltine. Warlock’s particular interest in music was in discovering and exploring the modal quality of English music through its folk song and its Elizabethan vocal music. The Capriol Suite captures what could be described as a neo-Elizabethan idiom and spirit quite perfectly and it is well worth listening to the whole work played in its orchestral arrangement. Warlock’s was in many ways an unfulfilled life but it is evident in both his instrumental and vocal music that he had a quite exceptional musical ear and a true understanding of English music. Close

Pieds-en-l’air arr. tenor saxophone & piano

This is an excellent piece for developing legato playing and instrument tone. It is also a good test piece because a successful performance requires a Read More...

This is an excellent piece for developing legato playing and instrument tone. It is also a good test piece because a successful performance requires an awareness of the modal influence that exists in the lines of the music evident in the conflicting accidentals that feature in the score. For an ensemble to play this piece perfectly in tune is quite a challenge because it requires the participants to be aware of each other’s part and rôle. The time signature is also a bit unusual but think of it as three groups of 3 whilst the tempo of the realisation is 132 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Rhythmically there are one or two moments that need attention particularly in the inner parts and the voice leading is at times quite challenging to follow. A tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is appended to the full music score. Peter Warlock’s career was sadly a short lived one but he did make some important contributions to the repertoire including the Capriol Suite from which this particular movement is taken. He was very interested in folk and Elizabethan music and used the name Warlock as a pseudonym for his composition work. He was a close friend of Delius and also worked as a music journalist using his real name which was Philip Heseltine. Warlock’s particular interest in music was in discovering and exploring the modal quality of English music through its folk song and its Elizabethan vocal music. The Capriol Suite captures what could be described as a neo-Elizabethan idiom and spirit quite perfectly and it is well worth listening to the whole work played in its orchestral arrangement. Warlock’s was in many ways an unfulfilled life but it is evident in both his instrumental and vocal music that he had a quite exceptional musical ear and a true understanding of English music. Close

Neapolitan Song arr. tenor saxophone & piano

This is an arrangement for tenor saxophone with piano accompaniment of Tchaikovsky’s Neapolitan Dance also familiar as a theme from one of the danc Read More...

This is an arrangement for tenor saxophone with piano accompaniment of Tchaikovsky’s Neapolitan Dance also familiar as a theme from one of the dances in Act III of Swan Lake. The musical material is very similar to that found in Tchaikovsky’s Children’s Album although the music has been arranged in 4/4 time and has a repeat whilst the piano accompaniment includes of some of the orchestral music countermelodies from Swan Lake. The tempo of the first section Allegro moderato in the realization is at 96 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minutes and for the Molto piu mosso section the tempo is 110 quarter note beats to the minutes. Often performers choose a slower tempo for the slower section and a faster one for the faster section. The first note of the tenor saxophone part is only sounded on the repeat and some performers cut out 4 beats in the link between bars 10 and 11. In the repeat there is additional instruction to accelerate towards the end of the movement but the music editor advises against this until the piece is known thoroughly by the soloist and well rehearsed with the accompanist. The accompanist may wish to edit the playing of the introduction by omitting the left hand chords and playing the octave lead in with separate hands or even more simply by starting at bar 5. A tenor saxophone part is appended to the full music score in the pdf download. Close

Sururú na Cidade arr. tenor saxophone with piano accompaniment

Zequinha Abreu was a Brazilian musician and composer and Sururú na Cidade translates as Sururú in the City. The rondo form of Sururú na Cidade can Read More...

Zequinha Abreu was a Brazilian musician and composer and Sururú na Cidade translates as Sururú in the City. The rondo form of Sururú na Cidade can be summarised as Intro A B B A C C A. The realisation plays back at a tempo of 88 quarter note beats to the minute and the repeats are played. The music of Brazil is a fascinating mix of European and African cultures with the Choro or Lament instrumental style having its origins in 19th century urban Rio de Janeiro (Chorinho = Little Lament). Whilst the inference of the title suggests a style that is sad, pieces can often have a fast and happy rhythms with syncopation, modulations and counterpoint. There are also particularly instruments associated with the performance of this music namely the flute, guitar and a small type of guitar with 4 strings known as the cavaquino which may have either play a melody or a chord rhythm. From the sheet music point of view this is a very concisely notated piece. A tenor saxophone part is appended to the full score. Close

No Bailes Más! (Dance No More) arr. tenor saxophone with piano accompaniment

Ignacio Cervantes was a Cuban composer born in the capital city of Havana in 1847. He had piano lessons with Louis Moreau Gottschalk before travelling Read More...

Ignacio Cervantes was a Cuban composer born in the capital city of Havana in 1847. He had piano lessons with Louis Moreau Gottschalk before travelling to Paris to further his music studies with Charles Valentin Alkan amongst others. This piece originates as a piano solo in the key of Eb whilst this realisation sounds in the key of Eb and plays at a tempo of 88 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Many performers play through the piece twice although no repeat signs are indicated in the score. Much of Cervantes piano music is well suited to being played by a variety of instrument combinations as they are well crafted and have great musical appeal. The habanera rhythmic shape features strongly. A tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Close

No Bailes Más! (Dance No More) arr. saxophone quartet

In this arrangement for saxophone quartet the specified instruments are soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones. The score is formatted as a one Read More...

In this arrangement for saxophone quartet the specified instruments are soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones. The score is formatted as a one document pdf file with individual parts for the four saxophones appended to the full score. Ignacio Cervantes was a Cuban composer born in the capital city of Havana in 1847. He had piano lessons with Louis Moreau Gottschalk before travelling to Paris to further his music studies with Charles Valentin Alkan amongst others. This piece originates as a piano solo in the key of Eb which is the sounding key of this realisation playing at a tempo of 88 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Many performers play through the piece twice although no repeat signs are indicated in the score. Much of Cervantes piano music is well suited to being played by a variety of instrument combinations as they are well crafted and have great musical appeal. The habanera rhythmic shape also features strongly in this sunny piece. Close

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot arr. tenor saxophone & piano

This is a very popular piece of music that in many respects transcends idiom, style and at times it could be suggested culture. This improver level ar Read More...

This is a very popular piece of music that in many respects transcends idiom, style and at times it could be suggested culture. This improver level arrangement for tenor saxophone and piano sounding in the key of F is in common time whilst some of the accompanying chords and rhythmic shapes have been updated to give a contemporary rock style. There are so many interpretations that it is almost impossible to decide how it should be sung, played and performed. This familiar spiritual gained popularity during the 1960’s with the Civil Rights movement and since 1988 it has become associated with the English rugby team. The realisation plays back at a tempo of 100 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the bar whilst the repeat is not played in the realisation. As players become familiar with the content and chordal structure there is opportunity to develop the melodic material through improvisation in an additional repeat especially if it is possible to recruit a percussion player. A tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Close

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot arr. saxophone quartet

This is a very popular piece of music that in many respects transcends idiom, style & it could be suggested culture. This improver level arrangement i Read More...

This is a very popular piece of music that in many respects transcends idiom, style & it could be suggested culture. This improver level arrangement is in common time while some of the accompanying chords and rhythmic shapes have been updated to give a more contemporary style. There are so many interpretations that it is almost impossible to decide how it should be sung, played & performed. This familiar spiritual gained popularity during the 1960’s with the Civil Rights movement and since 1988 it has become associated with the English rugby team. This arrangement explores a gentle rock style whilst the realisation plays back at a tempo of 100 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the bar. The full score includes a piano short score and individual parts for soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone are appended to the full score. Close

Skye Boat Song arr. tenor saxophone & piano

This familiar Scottish folk song begins and ends with a chorus (chorus-verse-chorus) and whilst its text describes the escape of Bonnie Prince Charles Read More...

This familiar Scottish folk song begins and ends with a chorus (chorus-verse-chorus) and whilst its text describes the escape of Bonnie Prince Charles the song is often sung as a lullaby. This improver level arrangement is in 6/8 time and is suited to being played by a number of instrument combinations. In this arrangement the accompanying chords have been updated to make the setting more contemporary. A tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. There are three piano accompaniments available playing at (1) 52 (2) 50 (3) 48 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Close

Santa Lucia arr. tenor saxophone & piano

Santa Lucia has its origins as a Neopolitan song with its lyrics celebrating the outdoor lives of boatmen who lived and worked in the Bay of Naples in Read More...

Santa Lucia has its origins as a Neopolitan song with its lyrics celebrating the outdoor lives of boatmen who lived and worked in the Bay of Naples in what sound to be very happy times. The repeat is not played in the realisation but in performance can be added. Instrument players should be aiming to develop their legato playing and quality of tone when playing the piece and there are opportunities to slow the tempo at the ends of phrases although this is not indicated in the score. Players may well want to also edit the phrasing because there are options available. A tempo of 100 quarter note (crotchet) beats is used in the playback. A tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is also appended to the full score. As this will be a familiar melody to any audience the piece will need to be known thoroughly before any performance is given. Close

The Swan arr. tenor saxophone & piano

Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921) was a French composer and this beautiful movement is from The Carnival of the Animals of 1886. The melody needs to be Read More...

Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921) was a French composer and this beautiful movement is from The Carnival of the Animals of 1886. The melody needs to be delivered with a legato tone and because of this and the melodic range it is an excellent piece for developing the tonal aspects of playing a musical instrument. Whilst the movement is particularly associated with the cello it is suited to being played by a number of different instruments and instrument combinations. The time signature indicates that there are 6 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the bar and these should be played as two groups of three. The harmonic language is very French in character sharing a subtlety that is also found in the music of his friend and pupil, the French composer Fauré. Pedalling in the piano part has not been indicated in the scores but does need to be used and generally this is governed by the harmonic rhythm of the movement. Like many French composers Saint-Saens was a very fine organist and music commentators suggest that his music is deserving of more attention because of its quality and variety. A tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. There are fouraccompaniments available without a click track for the introduction as this is not required because of the one bar piano introduction. They are at tempi of 75, 72, 69 and 66 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Please advise the PlentyMusic Office if you require accompaniments with different tempi and these will be uploaded. Close

Sicilienne arr. tenor saxophone & piano

A sicilienne is a slow tempo movement usually in a minor key with lilting rhythmic patterns and dotted notes enabling it to be described as a slow jig Read More...

A sicilienne is a slow tempo movement usually in a minor key with lilting rhythmic patterns and dotted notes enabling it to be described as a slow jig. This movement dates from 1893 and exists in several different arrangements. Fauré’s music possesses subtlety and as a composer he has a great awareness of instrument colour. Careful attention needs to be paid to the reading of accidentals as frequently different voices are sounding in what seem to be conflicting versions of a note. This is attributable to the modal element that it is a strong component of Fauré’s music. Apart from this, attention needs to be made to the reading of the notes and the score detail particularly in respect to knowing which notes are tied. In preparing the scores the most appropriate range of the solo instrument is explored and consequently different arrangements explore different octave ranges. The sustaining pedal is required when playing the accompaniment and this has been indicated in the opening bars of the full score. The accompanist has the choice of whether or not to spread the chords in bar 42 and 43. The realisation plays at a tempo of 50 dotted quarter notes to the minute. A tenor saxophone part in Bb part is appended to the full score appropriately transposed as is the same part in the full score. Quite a challenge to determine an appropriate tempo in what is music generally played with fluidity and rubato although Fauré himself was regarded as something of a metronome when accompanying singers! The music editor has the view that the movement is often played too quickly. Accompaniments are available at (1) 58, (2) 54 and (3) 50 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. There is a four bar count in to assist the soloist. For any player requiring a bespoke accompaniment please mark a music score with all the detail that you require regarding tempo and dynamics and forward to the PlentyMusic team. We will endeavour to provide a solution. Just drop your edited music score as an image or pdf to the PlentyMusic office. Close

Cantabile arr. tenor saxophone & piano

This is an excellent piece for an instrument player because it is challenging to play both from the pitch range the player has to manage and the oppor Read More...

This is an excellent piece for an instrument player because it is challenging to play both from the pitch range the player has to manage and the opportunities it offers to explore the tonal range of the tenor saxophone. Triplets are shown in the solo instrument part but only in the first two bars of the piano accompaniment. This arrangement is intended to be performance piece and although there has been some re-scoring of the solo part to make it just a little more playable for a range of instruments. Not all the intended ornaments are included in the score to enable the focus to be on playing the melody. The original Paganini version as one would expect has some very challenging moments but is well worth listening to particularly in its original form played on the violin. The limitations of the staff notation system are challenged particularly in the closing cadenza section at bar 45 which needs to be played with a clear sense of pulse being communicated. Paganini is a unique and quite captivating figure in the history of music who was a major influence on many romantic composers influencing both performance practice and also composition. He was the outstanding violinist of his age and in addition was an excellent guitarist although his performances on this instrument were shared with friends rather than the public. A tenor saxophone part is appended to the full score. Close

October (Autumn Song) arr. tenor saxophone & piano

October (Autumn Song) is a composition that dates from 1876 and is in ternary form (ABA) work being part of a collection of 12 pieces by the composer Read More...

October (Autumn Song) is a composition that dates from 1876 and is in ternary form (ABA) work being part of a collection of 12 pieces by the composer known as “The Seasons.” This piece requires sensitive but at the same quite controlled playing – exaggerated dynamics and articulations need to be avoided. Many older scores of this work are filled with articulation markings that possibly don’t have the same meaning with modern instruments. It is quiet melancholy composition of great beauty with some sharing of melodic material between the voices which makes it an excellent ensemble piece. Some performers particularly in the triplet passage work at the end of the sections interpret the ties rather liberally. Understand that realisation whilst quite satisfactory does not demonstrate the range of tempo variation needed for a truly convincing performance. Rubato is very applicable when performing this music. The pause mark is also not well represented in the recording as it really needs to be longer whilst the small notes do not sound in the playback the recording. The editor suggests listening to many of the excellent performances of this work. A tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Piano accompaniments are available at tempi of (1) 63 (2) 60 (3) 58 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. If an accompaniment is required with a click track in place for the cadenza section in bars 32 – 33 please advise the PlentyMusic office. Close

Serenade (Petite Suite) arr. tenor saxophone & piano

Borodin was clearly quite an exceptional person known as a doctor and chemist as well as being a member of the Russian group of composers known and po Read More...

Borodin was clearly quite an exceptional person known as a doctor and chemist as well as being a member of the Russian group of composers known and popularized as the “Mighty Handful.” His interest in music was essentially as a hobby but he was very well connected in Russian musical circles and his “Serenade” from the “Petite Suite” was published in 1896. The ostinato pattern that features in the work is an excellent unifying element in the composition and there is a strong melodic element in this miniature. A tempo of 60 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is used in the realization. The music editor suggests use of the piano sustaining pedal when playing the accompaniment although this has not been marked in the score. An appended tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Close

The Easy Winners arr. tenor saxophone & piano

This is an excellent ensemble piece in that it allows for great flexibility in instrument combinations. In this arrangement for tenor saxophone and pi Read More...

This is an excellent ensemble piece in that it allows for great flexibility in instrument combinations. In this arrangement for tenor saxophone and piano the sounding key is Ab and both the full score and the appended solo tenor saxophone part are appropriately transposed. The realisation tempo is 76 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute whilst the repeats are not played. What is interesting about performing this piece is the impact of a change of tempo on the musical character and musical outcomes. A tempo of 70 quarter note beats to the minute sounds quite slow and yet 80 quarter note beats to the minute sounds fast. Generally, there is not a great amount of performance detail indicated in ragtime music although where opportunity arises when repeating sections performers need to explore dynamic range. The formal pattern of Joplin’s ragtime pieces generally have the structure of the typical American March which can be represented as Intro AA BB AA Link CC DD. Piano accompanists are advised to make use of the sustaining pedal although this aspect of the performance detail has not been indicated in the music score. Piano accompaniments are available as mp3 downloads at tempi of 76, 72, and 68 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. The repeats are played in the accompaniments and there is a four bar count in at the beginning with bar 4 being silent. Close

Notturno arr. tenor saxophone & piano

This arrangement for tenor saxophone with piano accompaniment uses the first theme from the third movement of Borodin’s String Quartet No. 2. The mo Read More...

This arrangement for tenor saxophone with piano accompaniment uses the first theme from the third movement of Borodin’s String Quartet No. 2. The movement is commonly referred to as “Notturno” meaning night piece and is a very melodic movement and like much of Borodin’s music is very adaptable to being played by a number of different instrument combinations. There are 4 sections in the arrangement – theme, repeat of the theme with a varied and fuller accompaniment, the theme played in canon and a closing section which can best be be described as a coda. A tempo of 70 quarter note beats to the minute is used in the realisation and there are some octave transposition in the parts and the appoggiaturas that appear in the string quartet score have been omitted. Wherever possible material from the original work, dating from 1881, has been incorporated into the arrangement. The tenor saxophone part is appropriately transposed in both in the full score and the appended solo part. Close

Plaisir d’amour arr. tenor saxophone & piano

This music originates as a classical French art song which has over the years has been arranged and performed in many different styles and contexts. A Read More...

This music originates as a classical French art song which has over the years has been arranged and performed in many different styles and contexts. A tempo of 43 dotted quarter notes to the the minute is used in the realisation although there a slight speeding up for the piu mosso section. There are just two ornaments which appear in the final section as a performance option whilst the acciaccaturas (crushed notes) do not sound in the realisation. This is an excellent piece to explore playing at a slow tempo. Listen to a number of recordings of performances particularly by singers to gain an understanding of how this music can be performed. A solo tenor saxophone part is appended to the full score. Close

Après un rêve arr. tenor saxophone & piano

The piece has its origins as a song composed in the key of the key of C minor published in 1878 and is one of the composers most beautiful and popular Read More...

The piece has its origins as a song composed in the key of the key of C minor published in 1878 and is one of the composers most beautiful and popular melodies. This is an excellent piece for developing tonal quality and the melody needs to be played with a singing expressive legato. In this arrangement a tempo of 56 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute has been used in the realisation. The accompanist will need to make use of the sustaining pedal although this is not indicated and the score does require careful study in respect to the reading of the chromatic harmony. Fauré as a pianist and accompanist was very much regarded as something of a metronome and not considered to be very sympathetic to singers of his songs particularly when they added subtlety and nuance at the end of phrases. It would be beneficial to spend time reading through the lyrics for the song in translation to have an understanding of the music’s original context. The full score and appended solo part have the tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed. Accompaniments are available and play at the following tempi (1) 58 (2) 56 (3) 54 quarter note beats to the minute. There is a great range in the tempo that musicians both sing and play this movement and if the accompaniments available do not meet your requirements simply provide us with an annotated pdf score with the tempi score detail that you require and PlentyMusic will provide a bespoke accompaniment. Close

Jeanie with the light brown arr. tenor saxophone & piano

A parlour song by Stephen Foster dating from 1854 and whilst it has become a favourite, the song was not a commercial success and hardly known in Fos Read More...

A parlour song by Stephen Foster dating from 1854 and whilst it has become a favourite, the song was not a commercial success and hardly known in Foster's own lifetime. A version by the violinist Heifetz became very popular in the 1940's. The musical arrangement retains the harmonic outline of Stephen Foster's song although some of the rhythmic detail of the melody has been edited. Although the crushed notes (acciaccaturas) can be played and sound in the realisation, the small ornamental notes in the melody line of the arrangement are optional and are not sounded in the realisation. The tenor saxophone in both the full score and the appended solo part is shown transposed. Close

Valse arr. tenor saxophone & piano

The Waltz was a popular musical form during the romantic period favoured particularly in the salon or drawing room context. The movement needs to move Read More...

The Waltz was a popular musical form during the romantic period favoured particularly in the salon or drawing room context. The movement needs to move along with a clear one in a bar feel and I would suggest leaving out the small notes when learning the movement. The realisation tempo is at a (considered) 56 dotted quarter notes to the minute and I would suggest that it should be played at a faster tempo of at least 66 dotted quarter (crotchets) notes to the minute. Played at a faster tempo the players will need to possess very good performance techniques for their individual instruments. There are no repeats in the realisation. The tenor saxophone part in both the full score and the appended solo part is notated at transposed pitch. Close

Cantabile arr. tenor saxophone & piano

Fernando Sor's L'Encouragement Opus 34, originally for guitar duet, comprises three movements was originally intended to be performed as a continuous Read More...

Fernando Sor's L'Encouragement Opus 34, originally for guitar duet, comprises three movements was originally intended to be performed as a continuous movement although its three sections can easily be performed as separate movements and this is how they are presented on the www.plentymusic.co.uk website. The music dates from 1828 and consequently belongs to the romantic era and is a very good example of salon or drawing room music intended for small audiences at home rather than the concert hall. Fernando Sor, was a Spanish composer, born into a military family who has often been to as referred to as the Beethoven of the guitar. Whilst not considered to be a great composer he did nevertheless compose many attractive works that are suitable for performance in arrangements such as this. The piano essentially fulfills the role of the second guitar part with some additions to make the part more pianistic. Where appropriate barring and note values have been clarified as much for the eye than for musical reasons. Cantabile the first movement from L'Encouragement is in ABA (ternary) form although the repeat is a varied repeat. The realisation has a tempo of 54 dotted quarter note beats (crotchet beats ) to the minute and the musical content combines a pastoral feel with a quite stately tempo. The melody line needs to be delivered with a singing legato whilst the movement should be played communicating a sense of two beats to the bar. Both the full score and appended solo tenor saxophone parts are notated at transposed pitch. Close

The Teddy Bears Picnic arr. tenor saxophone & piano

This very familiar character piece dating from 1907 was originally composed in standard march form but the musical content has since been rearranged. Read More...

This very familiar character piece dating from 1907 was originally composed in standard march form but the musical content has since been rearranged. In this arrangement for tenor saxophone with piano accompaniment sounding in the key of F a tempo of 96 dotted quarter notes is used in the realisation. Instrumentalists have the option of playing a shortened form of the piece ending on the first eighth note (quaver) of bar 88 or playing the repeat section as heard in the realisation. There isn't too much score detail in the arrangement and as the music originates as a march understandably in a performance there does not have to be many variations of tempo. Observe that the full score has the tenor saxophone part notated at pitch whilst the appended solo part is appropriately transposed. There are three piano accompaniments available playing at (1) 96 (2) 92 (3) 88 dotted quarter note beats (crotchet) to the minute. Close

Dedicatoria arr. tenor saxophone & piano

A short but quite charming piece from the composer's Opus 1 collection. In this arrangement for tenor saxophone accompanied by piano, the tempo of the Read More...

A short but quite charming piece from the composer's Opus 1 collection. In this arrangement for tenor saxophone accompanied by piano, the tempo of the realisation is 62 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute although there are some slowing downs and speedings up in the performance. As the piece is quite short only the full score copy is available as a download with the tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed. The melody needs to be played in a legato singing style whilst the score needs to be studied so that the rhythmic intention of bars 9 and 11 is clearly understood by players. The melodic line in bars 10 and 12 needs to played as if as it is independent of the triplet figuration in the accompaniment. Understand that the music is conceived in three/sometimes four voices and dates from the late romantic period commonly referred to as the nationalist period in music history. Close

Tango arr. tenor saxophone & piano

This is a quite charming and atmospheric salon piece dating from the 1890's suited to being played by a number of different instruments and instrumen Read More...

This is a quite charming and atmospheric salon piece dating from the 1890's suited to being played by a number of different instruments and instrument combinations. It features the habanera pattern in the accompaniment often combined with a colourful melody line notated in triplets. The modal shift to flat 6th is also very suggestive of Spanish music as is the general compositional model. A tempo of 63 quarter notes to the minute is used in the realisation although tempo wise there is scope slowing down and speeding up when it is appropriate and this is reflected in the realisation. This is a an excellent piece for developing sensitive ensemble playing. The transposed solo tenor saxophone part is appended to the full score which is notated at sounding pitch. Close

The Happy Farmer arr. tenor saxophone & piano

A movement from Schumann's Album for the Young Opus 68 (1848) which was composed at a very happy time in his life. This is a very uplifting with a tem Read More...

A movement from Schumann's Album for the Young Opus 68 (1848) which was composed at a very happy time in his life. This is a very uplifting with a tempo of 110 quarter note beats (crotchet) to the minute used in this arrangement for tenor saxophone accompanied by the piano. The solo tenor saxophone part is appended to the piano score. Close

Minuet in F K.2 arr. tenor saxophone & bass guitar

Mozart's Minuet in F in an arrangement for tenor saxophone and bass guitar in the original key of F. The bass guitar part is both conventionally nota Read More...

Mozart's Minuet in F in an arrangement for tenor saxophone and bass guitar in the original key of F. The bass guitar part is both conventionally notated and also has a TAB chart whilst the tenor saxophone part is appropriately transposed. Mozart's piece is of a simply structured binary form movement. The minuet is a dance of French origin in 3/4 time and in an expanded form became important in the Classical era by being incorporated into many symphonies. The K numbers associated with Mozart scores refers to the Köchel or catalogue numbers that describe the chronologically order of his compositions. This catalogue was created some fifty years after the composers death and K2 understandably is his second published work composed when he was 6. Close

Rondo (Sonatina) arr. sop, alto & tenor saxophone

This is an attractive piece which has in the recent past been used as the basis for a pop tune. In this arrangement for soprano, alto & tenor saxophon Read More...

This is an attractive piece which has in the recent past been used as the basis for a pop tune. In this arrangement for soprano, alto & tenor saxophone, of the first section of the piece, the melody is played by the soprano saxophone while the chords and bass are played by the alto saxophone and tenor saxophone respectively. A tempo of 110 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested and the sounding key is F The rondo was composed by Clementi, known in his own time as a teacher, composer, performer and even as a manufacturer of pianos spending most of his adult life living in England. His Opus 36 Sonatinas are a rich source of music for piano players. A rondo is a piece with a recurring theme although only the A or first section is featured in this improver level arrangement intended to introduce players of these instruments to ensemble playing. Close

Romanze arr. alto & tenor saxophone & bass guitar

This is a charming piece of music in 6/8 time and taken from one of Beethoven's Sonatinas for piano. In this arrangement the alto saxophone plays the Read More...

This is a charming piece of music in 6/8 time and taken from one of Beethoven's Sonatinas for piano. In this arrangement the alto saxophone plays the melody whilst tenor saxophone accompanies playing broken chords with a bass line provided by a bass guitar. A tempo of 66 dotted quarter beats to the minute is recommended and as the music sounds in the key of F appropriate transcriptions have been made to the saxophone parts. Close

Any Rags? arr. tenor saxophone & piano

An arrangement for tenor saxophone with piano accompaniment of this song chorus that demonstrates many of the essential elements of an emerging popula Read More...

An arrangement for tenor saxophone with piano accompaniment of this song chorus that demonstrates many of the essential elements of an emerging popular music style at the beginning of the 20th century. It is a characterful and musical piece suited to being played as a link between scenes in a show or something with a similar context. The piece sounds in the key of F and the tenor saxophone part has as such been transposed. Close

Wilson’s Rag arr. tenor saxophone & piano

An arrangement of this ragtime waltz for tenor saxophone accompanied by piano. A tempo of 110 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggeste Read More...

An arrangement of this ragtime waltz for tenor saxophone accompanied by piano. A tempo of 110 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested and is used in the realisation. As the sounding key is F the tenor saxophone part has been appropriately transposed. Close

Elite Syncopations arr. tenor saxophone & piano

Elite Syncopations is another very well known ragtime piece by Scott Joplin whose remastered piano rolls are a good source of understanding of how thi Read More...

Elite Syncopations is another very well known ragtime piece by Scott Joplin whose remastered piano rolls are a good source of understanding of how this style of music should be performed. A tempo of 78 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended in this arrangement for tenor saxophone accompanied by piano.The sounding key is F and the solo instrument part is appended to the full music score with the appropriate transposition. The same ragtime piece is often heard played at varying tempos but the best advice is not to play too fast. It does need to be played consistently and with simplicity even though some of the sections are technically quite challenging. Some of the repeat sections have the option of playing the melody up an octave but this may prove to be too challenging for some instrumentalists. Close

The Entertainer arr. tenor saxophone & piano

In this arrangement for tenor saxophone with piano accompaniment sounding in the key of Bb a tempo of around 72 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the m Read More...

In this arrangement for tenor saxophone with piano accompaniment sounding in the key of Bb a tempo of around 72 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended. The solo instrument part with the appropriate transposition is appended to the full music score. Players may well want to challenge the intermediate level that has been given for this piece. Scott Joplin's The Entertainer is described as A Rag Time Two Step and was composed in 1902. The music is instantly recognisable, which is a disadvantage to any instrumentalist because as a consequence it needs to played both accurately and musically. Ragtime is the first readily identifiable modern popular music in that it has elements and links with popular music that succeeded it. Unfortunately, much ragtime music is played very badly and frequently at too fast a tempo so I would suggest listening to Scott Joplin's own remastered piano rolls to obtain an understanding of the performance style. Ragtime music is also quite deceptive in that it sounds easy on the ear but is actually quite a challenge for the fingers to play. Close

El Choclo arr. tenor saxophone & piano

This very popular tango dates from 1903. The English translation of El Choclo is the The Ear of Corn.This arrangement for tenor saxophone with a pian Read More...

This very popular tango dates from 1903. The English translation of El Choclo is the The Ear of Corn.This arrangement for tenor saxophone with a piano accompaniment is in C minor and has the solo instrument part appended to the full music score with the appropriate transposition. A tempo of 60-66 quarter note (crotchet) notes to the minute is recommended. Players can chose whether or not to include the triplet ornamentation. An adapable piece this movement exists in arrangements for solo instruments , various duos, cafe style groups and orchestra. Ángel Villoldo (1861-1919) was an Argentinian composer and a pioneer of tango which became very popular from both the music and dancing point of view towards the end of the nineteenth century. It is popular today both in Argentina from where it originates and is a familiar and recognisable music style around the world. Close

Soirée Polka arr. tenor saxophone & piano

The polka is a lively characterful dance that originated from the area now known as the Czech Republic (Bohemia) and its popularity spread widely thro Read More...

The polka is a lively characterful dance that originated from the area now known as the Czech Republic (Bohemia) and its popularity spread widely throughout Europe and subsequently North and South America. The dance is upbeat and celebratory in character and written in 2/4 time. Foster's Soirée Polka is an appealing and rhythmic piece suited to being played by a wide range of instruments and instrumental groups although the musical material needs to be played lightly. A tempo of 110 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended. The solo saxophone part is appended to the full music score. Stephen Foster (1826-1864) is known as the father of American music, responsible for writing over 200 songs many of which are still very well known today. His My Old Kentucky Home has been the official state song of Kentucky since 1928. He began composing as a teenager and attempted to live his life as a professional songwriter at a time before copyright laws protected a composers work so it was impossible for him to earn a decent living. Close

La Paloma arr. tenor saxophone & piano

Sebastian Yradier was a Spanish born composer who despite the universal popularity of the piece died in obscurity in 1865. Based on the Cuban habanera Read More...

Sebastian Yradier was a Spanish born composer who despite the universal popularity of the piece died in obscurity in 1865. Based on the Cuban habanera rhythm, La Paloma (The Dove) was written after the composer visited Cuba around 1860 and became very popular world wide. The melody needs to be played legato whilst the accompaniment figuration should be played staccato or certainly in a detached manner. There are many different versions of this piece and the triplet figuration provides various options on how the music can be both notated and played. A tempo of of around 60 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested. The solo tenor saxophone part, transposed to the appropriate key, is also appended to the full music score. there is also an accompaniment available for this score. Close

Le Piccadilly arr. tenor saxophone & piano

This march inspired by the music of the ragtime era is a cabaret piece featuring the cakewalk rhythm which was popular in Paris around 1900. A tempo Read More...

This march inspired by the music of the ragtime era is a cabaret piece featuring the cakewalk rhythm which was popular in Paris around 1900. A tempo of 96 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested for this concise cheerful piece dating from 1904. The solo instrument score with the appropriate transposition is appended to the full score. Close

Over the Waves arr. tenor saxophone & piano

This waltz melody is very much associated with the music of funfairs, trapeze artists and fairground organs and has even featured in the MGM film "The Read More...

This waltz melody is very much associated with the music of funfairs, trapeze artists and fairground organs and has even featured in the MGM film "The Great Caruso." Rosas was a Mexican composer and violinist who began his career as a street musician. After a visit to Cuba in 1894 he became very poorly and sadly died at the young age of 26. "Over the Waves" (Sobre las Olas) was published in Mexico in 1888 and has become one of the best known Latin American pieces and has been interpreted by many stylistically different types of performing groups. This improver level (second year players) movement in ternary ABA form is an ideal ensemble piece. The realisation plays back at 60 dotted half note (minim) beats to the minute and players need to communicate a one to the bar feel in their playing. A tenor saxophone part appropriately transposed is appended to the music score. Piano accompaniments are available to be downloaded at tempi of (1) 60 (2) 58 and (3) 58 dotted half note (minim) beats to the minute. Close

Twinkle Variations arr. alto & tenor saxophone

A very familiar melody used to introduce some of the elements of classical performance style in melody and accompaniment playing. This intermediate le Read More...

A very familiar melody used to introduce some of the elements of classical performance style in melody and accompaniment playing. This intermediate level arrangement for alto and tenor saxophone explores classical compositional techniques in a two part texture and features an alberti style bass, the melody played in the bass clef and changes of time signature. The music has been transposed and sounds in the key of F. Close

Minuet in G minor App.115 arr. alto & tenor saxophone

An arrangement for alto and tenor saxophone of this minuet from the Anna Magdalena Notebook sounding in the key of G minor and like most dance music f Read More...

An arrangement for alto and tenor saxophone of this minuet from the Anna Magdalena Notebook sounding in the key of G minor and like most dance music from this era in AB or binary form. The movement has a haunting quality and is often performed with the Minuet in G BWV App.114. Like so much of the music from the collection it is a great study piece for music students and can be played by a combination of different instruments. Keep the eighth notes (quavers) as even as possible and a tempo of around 116 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is suggested. The score has the appropriate transpositions in place for the specified instruments. Close

Sleeper\'s Wake arr. alto saxophone & tenor saxophone

This is music based on a chorale (hymn) tune that would have been familiar to Bach's congregations. Arranged for alto and tenor saxophone this is a sh Read More...

This is music based on a chorale (hymn) tune that would have been familiar to Bach's congregations. Arranged for alto and tenor saxophone this is a shortened two part version of this movement familiarising players with its rhythmic figuration and bass line. The rhythmic shapes sound modern and not surprisingly the movement has been subject to being arranged by a number of contemporary performing groups in a variety of styles. Close

Siciliano in G minor arr. for tenor saxophone & piano

An arrangement of this movement for tenor saxophone and piano. The siciliano is a slow tempo movement in 6/8 and 12/8 time particularly popular in the Read More...

An arrangement of this movement for tenor saxophone and piano. The siciliano is a slow tempo movement in 6/8 and 12/8 time particularly popular in the baroque period featuring dotted rhythms to give it a lilting feel that said this piece should not be played too slowly. This music has great beauty and gracefulness and the arrangement has the ornaments notated to clarify how they are to be played. Close

Polonaise in G min arr for alto & tenor saxophone

An arrangement for alto saxophone and tenor saxophone of this characterful and rhythmic piece in binary (AB) form sounding in the key of G minor.